Two new species of Caecilia (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Ecuadorian humid Chocó

We describe two new caecilian species of the genus Caecilia (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the wet tropical Chocó Forest, north-western Ecuador. We applied an integrative taxonomic approach, taking into consideration external morphology, osteology from intensive ct-scanning, and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The two new species were compared to all other Caecilia species, known to occur west of the Ecuadorian and Colombian Andes. The new taxa can be distinguished by their external morphological characters, as well as by their osteology, genetic divergence, and phylogenetic relationships. The two new species, although morphologically quite different, were closely related. Caecilia tesoro sp. n. is a large-bodied, robust species with a unique colour pat-tern in larger individuals. In contrast, Caecilia truncata sp. n. is a smaller caeciliid and sister to medium-sized C. volcani, a species known from Panama. Morphologically, C. truncata sp. n. is best recognized by a very truncated snout shape. As know from many previously recognized neotropical caeciliids, both new species are likely endemic to small ranges, here the humid tropical lowland to mid-altitude forests of western Ecuador. Both new species seem to tolerate some degree of habitat degradation. Our new findings support to intensify research and conservation activities in one of South America’s most diverse but severely endangered biomes. We also present, for the first time, some clues of the phylogenetic position of elongated C. nigricans and C. leucocephala. Caecilia nigricans was sister to a clade composed of one Oscaecilia and ten species of Caecilia. This topology rendered the genus Caecilia paraphyletic relative to Oscaecilia.